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Councillors wrong to hang onto perks

For years, Toronto city councillors have complained loudly that the city is on the verge of a financial crisis. And for years, they have demanded millions of dollars from the provincial and federal governments to bail out the city before it is forced to cut major services, such as TTC buses and road repairs, close swimming pools or lay off municipal employees.

Wed., April 25, 2007

For years, Toronto city councillors have complained loudly that the city is on the verge of a financial crisis. And for years, they have demanded millions of dollars from the provincial and federal governments to bail out the city before it is forced to cut major services, such as TTC buses and road repairs, close swimming pools or lay off municipal employees.

But when it comes to tightening their own belts, even by the smallest of notches, the council has time and again refused. The latest case occurred this week when the majority of councillors were utterly unwilling to sacrifice even a minor privilege, such as free golf at city-owned courses, in order to help balance the $7.8 billion budget. Such action damages an otherwise strong argument that Canada's largest city is in dire financial straits.

The perks involved are relatively small. Cancelling councillors' free golf passes to city-owned courses, for example, would save only about $15,000. But council's refusal to surrender even that tiny plum says much about its commitment to addressing Toronto's chronic budget mess.

The message seems to be: Let someone else fix it.

Rather than shaving even a few pennies from their municipal freebies, just to show a willingness to make an effort, councillors voted to send Queen's Park a ludicrous bill for $700 million to cover the cost of provincial downloading since amalgamation in 1998.

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The irony is that Toronto has been shortchanged. But in finalizing its perk-filled budget, council made it harder for Queen's Park to help the city. Now, if the provincial government moves to assist Toronto, it will have to explain to Ontario taxpayers why it is handing their hard-earned money to a city council that refused to give up even a free round of golf.

The current city budget was only balanced by draining the last of Toronto's discretionary reserves. City officials warn that, without help from Queen's Park or Ottawa, the next budget could result in bankruptcy.

Clearly, ending all local politicians' perks would not avert that crisis. But symbols matter in politics and even a small personal sacrifice would have put Toronto's leaders in a better position to seek help from others.

The motion to eliminate golf passes was one of several cuts suggested by Councillor Rob Ford. Many of the budget reductions he proposed were ill-advised. But his attacks on the perks enjoyed by councillors made sense. Perks include free passes to the Metro Zoo, Exhibition Place and Casa Loma; free parking at municipal lots and free food at meetings.

Even Mayor David Miller, a long-time opponent of Ford's penny-pinching ways, backed an end to free golf. But council split 22-22 when it came to a vote and the motion was defeated, since it lacked majority support.

Perhaps worst of all, the refusal to surrender even an afternoon of golf may confirm for some people an unfair stereotype of Toronto as a pampered place. Hopefully Queen's Park – and the rest of the country – does not judge Torontonians by the actions of these 22 councillors.

Council should immediately find a way to kill these perks. By doing so, it could end this embarrassment.

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